Steam-engine.



No. 734,720. PATENTED JULY 28, 190.3.

. H. K. LEE.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 6, 1901.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

llmmme l O o o o o N o` O Q 5 l \N` A* I l o g o i m O O O C) O Fz'g. j. A

x I Um@ TM: MORRIS PETERS co, Pacto-umu.. wAsHlNmoN, D. c.

PATENTED JULY 28, 1903.

H. K. LEE.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. s. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET t2.

zoy

IHIHIU" 0MM/W5 3 l, z 42 f z 9 m, Ml J w@ .fm wL www w. ,.lf. w., l Il ||H| 4 7 4 H W W/ /.d 6 l W f w l n n, m oo Z d. h|| 1 Q j@ f 32 @l Q W y w.

E Norms Pains cvzz4 vHovoL|TH..., wAsmNaToN. n. cv

No. 734,720. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903. H. K. LEE.

STEAM ENGINE.

A'PPLIOATION FILED DEO. 6, 19 01.

N 0 M 0 DE L.

HKLee) f na AWM @5x3 `rkomuzx 1% l nm Lrmo. wAsHmuToN u c No'. 'reared 'Patented July 2s, 190s.

L EEicE.

iIENRYA K-..\LEE, or nAiitTEoRD, ooNNEcTioU'r;

STEAM- ENGINE.-V

srieorErcArroN refining part of Letters Patent No. rnao, daten July? 28, 196s.

. Application filed Deeleniber 6, 192l.. Serial No. 84,981. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom 721'; may concern,.-

. Beit known that I, HENRY K. LEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines,- of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact specification. i

This invention relates to steam-engines, and `more especially to the compound type thereof; and it has for'one of its objects the provision of a controlling device whereby the exhaust-steam from one cylinder may be con-A ducted into the steam-chest of the other cylf inder and which may be shifted when desired to break this connection and to admit live steam to the steam-chests of both cylinders, which at this time may both exhaust into the open air.

My invention hasY furthermore for its object the provision of suitable steam and eX- haust conduits so ported relatively-to the controlling device above referred to that the live steam is at all times preventedfrom blowing through the exhaust-passages,`

i and all waste of steam is therefore avoided.

mum, thus maintaining the efficiency of the maximum proportionate to thesteam-pres` sure.

Another object of my invention resides in the organization of the live-steam conduits and the compoundingfpassages relative to the cylinders in such a manner that the loss of heat by radiation will be reduced to a ministeam during its work in the cylinders at a Hence my invention includes as one j of its elements a unitary cylinder-casting comprising a working chamber for the con-n trolling device and having the steam and ex-V haust passages for the cylinders disposedadjacent the cylinder-walls, while steam is admitted into the steam-chests at a point be` tween the portsurfaceof the valves andthe cylinder-walls.

My invention has furthermore for itsob ject the provision of 'a valve for controlling.

found in the combination with said valve of a member for retaining said valve against its seat, a steam-tight joint being established he;- tween said valve and said member, so that the live steam will be confined to the inner space limited by the walls of the valve, while the exhaust-conduits are disposed at the outside thereof.

Further objects of my invention will be apparent in the construction and organization of the several parts,.as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. V

While it is evident that my invention may be used in connection with any type of expansionengine,1 have illustrated in the drawings an engine which is especially designed for the employment of steam as its motive force, and the particular benefits to be derived therefrom are especially obvious when the engine is used, for instance, for propelling vehicles, since the conditions in the Work to be performed are apt to vary considerably during an'ordinary run.

It may be stated at this time'that it is immaterial when carrying my invention into practice what the number and relative sizes of the cylinders maybe. Neitheris the invention confined to a eomp'oundnon-condensing engine, inasmuch as it maybe employed in connection without compound condensing` engines with equal facility.,

In the following explanationy of the functions and operations I shall confine myself to the engine illustrated, which `comprises a high-pressure cylinder and a low-pressure cylinder having dierent areas, while the piston-stroke is the same in both instances. Normally the exhaust-steam from the high-pressure cylinder is' discharged into a receiver connected with the steam-chest of the low- 3 pressure cylinder, where it Willbecome effective under a less mean eifective` pressure in assisting the high-pressure cylinder, which .small size.. This organization is based upon the conditions of driving the vehiclealong a level road, the speed being modifiedin "the usual manner by cutting 0E steam at dierent periods of the piston-stroke. A different condition is met, however, when it becomes necessary to run upgrade, in which instance for a given power maybe of comparatively IOO more power is required than before, while the initial steam-pressure remains the same. Through my invention I am enabled to isolate the low-pressure cylinder from the highpressure cylinder, permitting the latter to exhaust directly into the atmosphere, While the former is also transformed into a highpressure cylinder obtaining steam at maximum pressure and also exhausting into the atmosphere. Instead of a compound engine we have now a pair of independent engines both operating under steam-pressure and both subject to regulation by cutting off steam as required inv order to obtain and maintain the necessary mean effective pres-` sure.

As soon as the top of the upgrade has been reached the controlling device may be returned to its original position, in which the cylinders are again operated as before.

From the above itwill be understood that the shifting movement of the controlling device does not in any way affect the regulation of the steam cut-off, but that this movement results only in compounding and, on the other hand, in separating the cylinders one from the other, in which latter instance the exhaust-passage from the original highpressure cylinder is connected directly with the atmosphere instead of With the steamchest of the low-pressure cylinder.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which similar characters denote similar parts, Figure l is a front View of an engine embodying my invention and partly broken away to ldisclose the cylinder-ports. Fig. 2 is a side View thereof. Fig. 3 represents a section through the steam passages and conduits and also through the controller, as indicated by the broken line 3 3 in Fig. 5, the cylinders being both operated by high pressure. Fig. 4 is a similar section and shows t-he controller shifted to compound the cylinders. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the exhaustconduit on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a section through the live-steam passages leading to both cylinders on line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 9 indicates the engine-casing, having arranged therein the horizontal high-pressure cylinder 10, which is formed integral with the side walls of the casing 9 and having a piston ll movable therein and obtaining its supply of steam through ports 12, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The ports are closed and opened by a valve 13, arranged in the end of the engine-casing and which in the present instance is of the reciprocatory type and has its seat upon the portsurface 14, while at its side it may be guided in Ways 15 and properly operated-as, for instance, by a valve-rod 16. Steam may be admitted into the steam-chest 17 through an opening 18, (see Fig. 7,) said steam-chest almost entirely surrounding the high-pressure cylinder, so as to serve as a steam-jacket, and thus to maintain the highest efficiency of the Working steam in the cylinder.

The valve which I employ in connection with my improved steam-engine comprises in its preferred form a substantially rectangular frame 19, the end sections 19of which are adapted to ride over the ports 12, and in order to render the valve perfectly balanced the central portion of the valve is cut away or apertured, thus permitting the steam to pass therethrough `from the inside to the outside thereof, in which manner the steam-pressure will be equalized uniformly on the inside of the frame 19 and the steam-chest 33.

Means are provided whereby said valve is mantained in proper position on its seat, these means comprising in the present instance a follower 20, preferably made in annular form and seated within a similar-recess 2l, provided in a cap 22, which may be counterbored at suitable places to receive springs, such as 23, for forcing said follower, and thereby the valve, toward the cylinder. From the foregoing it will be understood that the follower is in reality a stationary member and that the springs serve merely for the purpose of taking up the wear between valve and the follower during the operation of the engine.

The numeral 24 designates the low-pressure cylinder forming an element of my present invention. This cylinder is of greater diameter than the high-pressure cylinder-and is arranged to one side thereof, it being formed integral therewith and with the engine-casing and having a piston 25 movable therein, while steam is admitted to the interior of said cylinder through suitable ports 26. (See Fig. l.) These ports may be opened and closed in a manner similar to that of the lowpres sure cylinder-am for instance, by a valve 27, the construction of which is preferably similar to that of the valve 13 and which may be operated by a valve-rod 28. The valve 27 is mounted for reciprocation on the valveseat 29, formed in the opposite end of the engine-casing 9, and is shown guided in ways 30, while a follower 3l is actuated by springs 32 substantially in the manner above described. The valve 27 is also apertured near its central portion, permitting the steam for operating the low-pressure piston to enter the steam-chest 33 from below the port-surface, and thereby rendering the valve balanced, as in the previous instance referred to.

Inasm uch as under ordinary conditions the high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders are to be operated compound, or, in other words, that the exhaust-steam from the high-pressure cylinder is to be utilized for work in the low-pressure cylinder, suitable passages are provided for conducting the exhaust-steam from the high-pressure cylinder to the steamchest of the low-pressure cylinder. Likewise it will be remembered from the preliminary statement above made that live-steam pressure may be admitted to both cylinders, and

from this it follows that the passage for the live steam and that of the exhaust-steam from the high-pressure cylinder to the steam- IOO IIO

chest of the low-pressure cylinder should be organized as `to permit a ready formation of and also a break in the communication between these passages, this` result being ac-` complished in the present instance by entering both the live-steam passage as Well as the exhaust-passage from the high-pressure cylinder into a valve-chamber which is at the same time in communication with the steampassage leading tothe low-pressure cylinder, asuitable controller being mou uted for movemeutin said valve-chamber to effect the necessary union of the steam-passages as required.

The particular organization of the steam and exhaust passages and their communicai tion with the valve-chamber is clearly shown in Fig. 4, in which 34 designates a steam-pas sage connecting directly with the steam-opening 18 and forming a part of the steam-'supply chamber for the high-pressure cylinder,while r denotes a receiver, which is in the present instance placed into communication with the exhaust-passages 36 36 of the high-pressure cylinder when the controller is in its lowermost position, as indicated in Fig. 4. The

controlling device comprises in this instance a 4valve-chamber 37, substantially7 cylindrical in cross-section and adapted to receive in sliding contact therein a controller member, which in the preferred form thereof shown comprises a plurality of heads or pistons cooperative with series of ports leading into -through conduits 36 36 into the valve-cham-V ber 37throughA ports 39 ,and 40, respectively, and then passing out of said chamber into the receiver r, which, as hasabove been stated, is in direct communication with the steam-chest of the low-pressure cylinder. After passing through the receiver the exhaustt steam enters the low-pressure cylinder and passes through the exhaust-conduits 41, both of which are in communication with an eX- haust-chamber 42, from which it may be connected into the atmosphere-as, for instance, through an opening 43. (See Fig. 7.)

inasmuch as it is desirable that the controlling device c maybe freely moved and without any excessive friction between its heads and the inner surface of the valvechamber, I deem it expedient to provide means whereby the steam-pressure will be equally distributed at all points upon the outer surface of the heads whenever the latter should be in a position toclose the ports.

I accomplish this objectby forming the valvechamber `37 substantially tubular and by providing a plurality of ports circumferentially in alinement with each other and connecting with a channel or annular recess through which the steam may have access to all of said ports.

As above stated, live steam is contained within the valve-chamber 37 and confined therein between the piston-heads p and-p2, so that iu this manner the controlling device, as far as its longitudinal movement in said chamber is concerned,l is entirely balanced. It will also be noted that the exhaust-ports 39', leading from the exhaust-conduit 36 into the valve-chamber, are closed by piston p3, while the passage of the exhaust-steam from the passage 36 into the conduits 46 is prevented by the piston p4.

Whenit is now desired to admitlive steam into the low-pressure cylinder, the controller .c will be moved longitudinally in its chamber 37 until the position shown in Fig. 3 has been reached, at which time the exhauststeam from the high-pressure cylinder enters the ports 39 and 39' of the valve-chamber,trav erses the latter, and then passes into the exhaust-conduits 46 and 46 through the ports 47 and 47', respectively, thence through the exhaust-chambers 4l and 42 and the opening 43 into the atmosphere.

During the shifting movement of the controlling device c from its lowermost to its uppermost position, which latter is shown in Fig. 3, the steam-port 38, leading `into the valve-chamber 37, is at first closed and will remain so until the exhaust-ports 39 will be entirely sealed, whereupon during the continued upward movement of the controller c the steam-port 38 will again be opened and therefore permit live steam to pass through the passage 34 and the valve-chamber 37 into the receiver r, at which time both of the exhaust-conduits will stand in direct communication with the exhaust-conduits 46 and 46', and consequently the atmosphere, while at the same time the passage of the exhauststeam from the normally low-pressure cylinder will remain the same as before.

When the controller c is in its highest position, all communication between the eX- haust-chambers 36 and 36 with the receiver r is interrupted by the pistons p4 and p5, respectively, and all pressure which the eX- haust-steam from the high-pressure cylinder through the port 39 may have will-be evenly distributed between the pistons p4 and p5, tlrus rendering the controller balanced at that point. Furthermore, since the exhaust-steam ICO IIO

from the high-pressure cylinder might tend to force the controller upward to have an upward pressure against the controller by eX-, panding in the lower part ot' the valve-chamber 37, between the pistonp4 and the cap 48,

I provide a passage 49 in communication with the upper end of said valve-chamber and above the piston p3, said passage being in direct communication with the exhaust-chamber 46', so

' that the controlleris balanced by the exhaustvalve-chamber, and I wish it distinctly un derstood that I do not contne myself to the particular construction of such controller as herein shown and described, since many modifications may be made therein without departing from the gist of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steam-engine of the character described, a high-pressure cylinder, a low-pressure cylinder, distributing-valves for said high and low pressure cylinders, a receiver surrounding and forming a jacket for the low-pressure cylinder, and a starting-valve mounted between the exhaust for the highpressure cylinder, and the receiver, substantially as described.

2. In an engine, a high-pressure cylinder, a low-pressure cylinder, balanced distributing-valves for said cylinders comprising a rectangular slidable frame having a central cut-away portion, and Vmeans for normally holding the valve in 'its seat comprising slidable sprin g-pressed followers mounted against lateral movement, a receiver for the exhaust of the high-pressure cylinder surrounding said low-pressure cylinder, and a starting- Valve, substantially as described.

3. In a steam-engine, a high-pressure cylinder, a low-pressure cylinder, a receiver for the exhaust of the high-pressure cylinder surrounding the low-pressure cylinder, balanced distributing-valves and a startingvalve mounted between the high-pressure cylinder exhaust and the receiver, a valvechamber having ports therein, a sliding member mounted within the same and provided With.a plurality of heads and interstices adapted to slide into and out of register with the ports of the valve-chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a compound steam-engine, a highpressure cylinder and a low-pressure cylinder, balanced distributing-Valves for said cylinders, a receiver for the exhaust of the high-pressure cylinder surrounding the lowpressure cylinder, and a starting-valve comprising a valve-casing integral with the receiver, having ports communicating therewith, and ports communicating with the cylinder, and a slidable controlling member composed of a plurality of heads having annular interstices between the same adapted to close communication through said port of the valve-casing with the receiver, and with the cylinders.

HENRY K. LEE. Witnesses:

CHAs. F. SCHMELZ, JULIA G. MCCORMICK. 

